Fan Fiction ❯ Earth's Reflection, My World ❯ Beast Revealed ( Chapter 12 )

Chapter Twelve:
Beast Revealed

"I have felt it's ominous presence since Neouri arrived here father." Keurai repeated. "It's a malevolent force, one that intends to wipe out the rest of the world. And what I don't understand is how you can not feel it's presence!"

Derrin listened to his son, they were on their threa, far ahead of the rest of the group. The carts were guarded by the bloodhunter brothers, Xel and Eede on their personal threa, Vairon leapt through the treetops as the armed escort, and Cerin protected Neouri and the queen who rode the threa at the center of the group. Marvolo and Threnin made a point to bring up the far rear, but Keurai suspected Threnin wanted to be as far away from the girl who was charming him to be a little tamer, and Marvolo wanted to know Threnin's thought on their newly adopted sister, who in the last two days of travel, was driving them both insane.

The forest in the area was not thick, rather dense, but the path they took was one that was often used, and well made. It was a dirt road, but was one that was well used to go to and from Marvolo's keep, to and from Keurai's mansion, Olerifeise.

Now though, Keurai was telling his father about the presence he felt in the world- a dark, and cloudy one that he didn't like.

"Look," Derrin said gently. "We have yet to meet such a force. Perhaps it is just that since your sister came here, someone has ill thoughts about her, and wishes to see her hurt."

Keurai never thought of it that way. He was sure though, that something was waiting to steal Neouri from him.

*****

Neouri caught their scent, and saw Xel and Eede both moving closer to her, the queen, and Cerin as they sat, seemingly oblivious in the coverless cart with the late sun shining down. Evening was nearing in only two to three hours. The light sources were low, and now would be the perfect time for their guests to show themselves.

Neouri smiled on though. Even if her sweat was scented with a light tang of panic since the moment they captured Vairon, and replaced him with one of their own people. She could smell Eede's distress, and Xel's beneath the surface anger. She knew that the enemy had already flanked them on both sides, and that they were slowly making their way to cut them off, and that thy were coming up behind them. Whoever was hunting them, were no amateurs, and they outnumbered the royal party, four to one at least.

Neouri watched Cerin's eyes dart back and forth. The queen was laughing at something he said and was fussing over him like he was her son. Cerin cuddled up to her, properly, but not as close as he got to Neouri. Cerin's bright blue eyes locked with Neouri's, and they both knew trouble as coming soon.

Too bad it came sooner than she first thought.

As if her thoughts conjured them, they leapt from the bushes. They attacked with a blurred swiftness, and the tamed royal beasts were leashed, muzzled, and caged, the threa were dead, or collared, and the people were roped and tied, the guards unarmed.

Neouri and the queen, being the only women in the entire traveling band, were tied together away from Cerin, who was tied up alone. Xel and Eede were caged with the beasts, muzzles over their faces and chains on their necks. Vairon was beside them, his face pale when he saw Neouri. The king and his sons were tied up together, thrown in the cart, with Neouri and Lilaria roughly and covered with a felt covering. The animals, Eede, Xel, Cerin, and Vairon would be transported wherever in other means.

The royal family never complained through the entire bumpy ride. No, they looked annoyed, and uncomfortable. Neouri followed their lead, and made herself as comfortable as possible, she and Lilaria scooting up so they could lean against something. Lilaria scooted so that their ropes made them side by side. She leaned into Derrin, which left Neouri in physical contact with her half brother, Threnin.

Threnin looked calm. Deadly calm. An icy aura emanated from him. And when he looked at Neouri, it seemed to intensify, sending shivers down Neouri's spine. But it was Marvolo who spoke.

"It's Lord Farallo. He hired veeaido to get me," Neouri swiveled her head to look at him. "He should have left you guys out of it."

*****

Lord Farallo was a good looking man with sky blue hair, and cat green eyes. He was built average- average height, average weight, average everything His skin tone was deep olive color.

Neouri thought it was a shame he was an asshole.

"It seems I have most of the royal family of Tiare." he looked over at the queen and Neouri. "And their mistresses." he grinned when they all glared at him. "As well as their little pets!" Neouri hard Xel's rumbling and assumed he was growling at Farallo.

Cerin was hidden in the middle of the beasts, hiding behind Xel, Eede, and Vairon. He made no sound.

Farallo was looking over his captives, his cat eyes lit with pleasure. Until his gaze landed on Neouri, his eyes widened, and he blinked. Farallo's mouth was in a small O when he went to inspect her.

Neouri's skin crawled where he touched her chin, lifting it this way and that, inspecting it. He then called over one of his men to untie her, and bind her wrists and feet. He continued his inspection, making her stand up, and circling her. When he made to touch her flesh, he called a guard over to held her still.

Farallo was awed at this exquisite beauty. When he touched her skin, he ignored her squirming, and felt how soft her arms were. She lifted both her legs, and tried to swing them at him when he cupped her lovely breasts, and stilled when he cupped her womanhood through her skirts, and felt himself harden instantly. He never saw her face pinken, then pale, nor did he see the faces of her brothers, her father, her mother, her friends, and his guards.

He never heard the sounds of growling, the silent shrieks, and he didn't notice the giant wolf behind him until he felt the little prickles on the back of his neck.

The warm breath at the back of his neck tickled the hairs there, and something in his brain.

Oh, shit. . . Neouri watched with wide eyes the wolf that was equal in height to her, it's black fur bristling at the back of it's neck, it' s muzzle scrunched in fury, and a growl pouring from it's mouth. Stormy eyes raged with lightning, and a jewel of amethyst glowed dark violet on it's forehead. It's tail, long and bushy was in the air, and it lowered it's head dangerously, making it's nose touch Farallo's lower back.

Neouri knew who the wolf was, and wondered how the hell he could have changed into the beast that released the threa, and the royal beast who were making quick work of clearing the hall, or maiming those who were too foolish to leave. Eede had released her brothers, Vairon chased after the veeaido, his elfin senses not distracted as he took one down, then another, the rest turned around to team up on him, but Marvolo, Threnin, Derrin, and Eede were already there to help him.

It was Farallo and Xel. Neouri was released, and her knees refused to hold her as she stared up at the beast Xel became. Her eyes widened, and she felt something blossom within her. It gave her an inner peace, a tranquil air surrounded her, and then there was nothing but the moment.

Farallo barely had time to gasp in fear once he realized he had angered a bloodhunter, who had changed. Thoughts flit through his mind, as panic settled in, and his eyes widened, his pupils dilating with fear.

Then Xel pawed him over. Farallo was knocked by the blow, and went rolling on the ground. Xel chased after him, and continued to play with him, Farallo silent and unconscious from the first blow. He was growling the entire time, and his eyes turned red.

That was when Eede tried to stop him. He changed too, his armor being absorbed into his body, until he was a wolf that was half the size of Xel, with an amethyst in his forehead, and blind blue eyes.

Xel was barely aware of anything, he had lost human consciousness long ago, the moment he picked up Farallo's thoughts. he wanted the woman I wanted! The beast said, and when Cerin unlocked the cage, the beast was released from Xel's heart as well.

It had killed all the men in the room in a flash, and allowed- no, commanded- that they be eaten, and not buried at all. The royal beasts did as they were told, the threa as well. And Xel went after Farallo.

He smelled his fear, and enjoyed it. It was addictive. He enjoyed the scent of fear, it was a tangy sweet smell, and Xel liked that. He also like the taste of blood. . .and he hadn't fed in awhile. . .

Before Eede could stop him, one of Xel's canine teeth, bit into Farallo's chest, and his tongue lapped up the precious liquid.

When instinct told him to heal the wound, he cast the spell, and continued to look for food. He found the guards, and licked up the blood that poured on the ground. When he cleaned the blood from the floor, he continued his search for blood. His stomach was a bottomless pit suddenly, and he needed to fill it.

When the same bloodhunter tried to stop him again, Xel growled, and snapped at him. Demanding he challenge him, or leave.

Eede's human conscious was still there, and he was not so foolish to challenge his brother. He bowed his head, and backed away.

The beast was searching for prey, but the room was empty.

Except for that tantalizing scent of warmth, and summertime. Xel's head swiveled to face Neouri, who was standing behind him. Neouri saw him, and smiled.

Won't you be my friend?

The voice penetrated the beasts bloodlust, and managed to intrigue him.

He turned around, and loped towards the girl. His ears facing towards her, his head high, and his tail wagging. His eyes seemed to lose the stormy quality to become a cloudy sea.

I'd like to be your friend.

The wolf's tongue lolled out of it's mouth, and he stood face to face with her.

Neouri felt empathy swelling within her chest, and she reached out to him. She touched his muzzle, and rubbed the place between his eyes.

His eyes drooped, and he nudged his head into her hand for more pats and caresses. He felt her hands reach up to his ears, and scratch his ears as he hid his head in her breast, and pushing her backwards.

She fell on her rump, and the beast looked at her, his eyes sparkling, and his jaw open as if he were. . .laughing at her!

She gave him a pointed stare, and his eyes darkened over, as if warming over.

He was looking over her white dress, the light skirt, where Farallo's hands had been, the bodice where he caressed her, and her bare arms that were victims to his harsh hand.

A wolf instinct took over, and he licked Neouri's arms, his tongue scraped over her breast, and cleaned the area between her thighs through her skirt. When he was through, he lay down, bringing her with him, and placing his head in here lap. He looked up at her, as if telling her to continue her petting, and cooing. His tail wrapped around her, and he was satisfied when she continued to pamper him.

She stroked his head, scratching the base of his ears every once in while. Her voice began to sing to him, and the beast closed it's eyes.

Xel's eyes snapped open, and he realized he was in wolf form, the taste of blood in his mouth, and his head in someone's lap. They were scratching, and touching him though. And it felt nice. A soft voice floated over to his sensitive ears, and he began to slip into slumber. The beast had used a lot of his strength, and he answered to returning to human form.

Neouri stopped stroking when she felt Xel's head in her lap. His cheek was in her thigh, and his arm wrapped around her as his tail had been. She felt his puffs of breath, and cupped the side of his face.

That was how Eede found them, along with the rest of the family and Vairon. He had went to get them when Neouri wouldn't budge, and threatened to change if that was what she he had to do in order to get him to listen. So he went to get her family.

But, the beast in Xel had succumbed to the charm of the cherilian.